The UniVlora Scientific Journal (UVSJ) is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity, transparency, and ethical conduct in scholarly publishing. The journal adheres to the Core Practices of the Committee on Publication Ethics (COPE) and expects all participants in the publication process - including authors, editors, reviewers, and the publisher - to uphold the principles of honesty, fairness, accountability, and respect for the scholarly record.

The journal does not tolerate plagiarism, data fabrication, data falsification, duplicate publication, inappropriate authorship, undisclosed conflicts of interest, or any other form of research or publication misconduct.

Responsibilities of Authors

Authors submitting manuscripts to UVSJ are expected to:

• submit original work that has not been previously published and is not under consideration by another journal;
• ensure that all data presented are accurate, reliable, and honestly reported;
• appropriately acknowledge the work and ideas of others through proper citation;
• obtain all necessary ethical approvals for research involving human participants, animals, or sensitive data before conducting the study;
• disclose any financial or non-financial conflicts of interest that could influence the research or its interpretation;
• identify all individuals who have made substantial scholarly contributions as authors and ensure that all listed authors approve the submitted and final versions of the manuscript;
• promptly notify the Editor if a significant error or inaccuracy is discovered after submission or publication.

Authors are responsible for ensuring that all permissions have been obtained for the use of copyrighted material, figures, tables, images, or other third-party content.

Responsibilities of Editors

Editors are responsible for maintaining the scientific quality and integrity of the journal. Editorial decisions are based solely on the scholarly merit of submitted manuscripts, including originality, methodological rigor, significance, clarity, ethical compliance, and relevance to the journal's scope.

Editors shall:

• treat all submissions fairly and without discrimination based on nationality, institutional affiliation, gender, race, religion, political beliefs, or personal characteristics;
• preserve the confidentiality of submitted manuscripts throughout the editorial process;
• select qualified and independent reviewers with relevant expertise;
• manage conflicts of interest appropriately and recuse themselves from handling manuscripts where such conflicts exist;
• take appropriate action when ethical concerns or allegations of misconduct arise;
• issue corrections, retractions, or expressions of concern when necessary to maintain the integrity of the scholarly record.

Editors shall not use unpublished information obtained during the editorial process for personal research or personal advantage.

Responsibilities of Reviewers

Peer reviewers play a vital role in ensuring the quality of published research.

Reviewers are expected to:

• provide objective, constructive, and timely evaluations;
• maintain strict confidentiality regarding all submitted manuscripts;
• declare any conflicts of interest and decline review assignments where impartiality may be compromised;
• identify relevant published work that has not been cited by the authors when appropriate;
• report any suspected plagiarism, duplicate publication, data manipulation, ethical concerns, or other forms of research misconduct to the Editor.

Reviewers shall not use unpublished information obtained through peer review for personal benefit.

Research Integrity

The journal is committed to preserving the integrity of the scholarly record.

Any allegation of research or publication misconduct, including but not limited to plagiarism, fabricated or falsified data, duplicate publication, image manipulation, unethical research practices, citation manipulation, or authorship disputes, will be investigated by the Editorial Office in accordance with the COPE Core Practices and, where appropriate, the COPE Flowcharts.

Depending on the outcome of an investigation, the journal may:

• reject the manuscript;
• request corrections or clarifications;
• publish a correction or corrigendum;
• issue an expression of concern;
• retract the published article;
• notify the authors' institutions, funding bodies, or other relevant authorities when warranted.

Plagiarism

All submitted manuscripts may be screened using plagiarism detection software before peer review and, where necessary, during the editorial process.

Manuscripts containing plagiarism, self-plagiarism, duplicate publication, or extensive unattributed text overlap may be rejected or withdrawn at any stage of the publication process.

Conflicts of Interest

Authors, editors, and reviewers must disclose any financial, professional, institutional, or personal relationships that could influence—or reasonably be perceived to influence—their objectivity.

Where a conflict of interest exists, appropriate measures will be taken to ensure an independent and impartial editorial decision.

Ethical Approval

Research involving human participants, animals, personal data, or biological materials must comply with applicable national and international ethical standards.

Where required, authors must provide the name of the approving ethics committee or institutional review board and the corresponding approval number within the manuscript.

Research involving human participants must have been conducted in accordance with the principles of the Declaration of Helsinki, where applicable.

Corrections and Retractions

When significant errors or evidence of misconduct are identified after publication, the journal will take appropriate action to preserve the integrity of the scholarly record.

Corrections, retractions, expressions of concern, and other post-publication notices will be published promptly, remain permanently linked to the original article, and be clearly identified in accordance with internationally accepted publishing standards.

Complaints and Appeals

Authors, reviewers, and readers may submit complaints regarding editorial decisions, publication ethics, or the editorial process to the Editor-in-Chief.

All complaints and appeals will be handled fairly, confidentially, and in accordance with the principles of procedural fairness and the guidance provided by COPE.

Commitment to Ethical Publishing

The UniVlora Scientific Journal is committed to fostering responsible research and ethical scholarly communication. The journal continuously reviews its editorial policies to ensure alignment with internationally recognized best practices and to safeguard the quality, credibility, and integrity of the scientific record.